Showing posts with label switzerland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label switzerland. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Aga Khan Film continues in theatres in Geneva!

Daily at 16.30 at Cinema Bio Geneve Carouge - film will also go on next week so already week 5!

Cinema Bio Genève Carouge, Rue St-Joseph 47 1227 Carouge 022.301.54.43

The Aga Khan

and the Ismailis

Un film documentaire de William Cran

(VO sous-titrée en français. Age légal/suggéré : 16/16)



Descendant direct du prophète Mahomet, le prince Karim Aga Khan IV est le 49e Imam, chef spirituel des 15 à 30 millions d'Ismaélites dans le monde.

En tant que membre de conseils d'administration d'établissements financiers, de sociétés de médias, de mines de pierres précieuses, de lignes aériennes ou encore d'hôtels, il a fondé le Réseau de Développement Aga Khan, la plus grande oeuvre de bienfaisance privée qui, entre autres, a versé plus de 80 millions de dollars pour aider à reconstruire l'Afghanistan après la guerre.

Ce documentaire constitué de d'images inédites dresse le portrait d'un homme respecté par la communauté internationale, prêchant tolérance et pacifisme, en contraste avec les interprétations autrement plus extrémistes du Coran que prônent d'autres courants islamiques.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Geneva, Switzerland Screening - Jan 27, 2009

The Aga Khan Film will makes its Geneva, Switzerland debut on Jan 27, 2009 at 7pm. Will you join us? Reserve your tickets here (CHF 15.00) and please forward this e-mail to your friends, family and colleagues.

The documentary will play in English with French subtitles and there will be a post-film discussion with the filmmakers.

See the trailer.

Best wishes,
Shamir
Producer


Bonjour

Nous aimerions vous inviter pour la première du documentaire "THE AGA KHAN & THE ISMAILIS" (GB 2008, 61 min.) de Bill Cran, Jane Chablani & Shamir Allibhai.


LE FILM

Le premier documentaire sur l'Aga Khan depuis 45 ans... et le premier documentaire sur la communauté des Ismailis et le Aga Khan Development Network Genève (la plus grande NGO privé du monde).

Ce documentaire constitué de d'images inédites dresse le portrait d'un homme respecté par la communauté internationale, prêchant tolérance et pacifisme, en contraste avec les interprétations autrement plus extrémistes du Coran que prônent d'autres courants islamiques.

DATE

27 Jan, 19.00, Cinema Bio (www.cinema-bio.ch)
En présence du producteur Shamir Allibhai et la mettrice en scène Jane Chablani ("Stealing Klimt")

R.S.V.P.

Jusq'au Jan 17, merci

RESERVATION

Vous pouvez réserver des billets (CHF 15.00) sur www.docufactory.ch (AgaKhanFilm) ou avec un email sur agakhanfilm [ at ] docufactory.ch

Monday, November 10, 2008

Aga Khan Film - Switzerland - 6th week

The Aga Khan Film will be playing for the 6th week in Zurich again!

Next Screening: 12:30pm, Sunday,
November 16, 2008
- Zurich, Switzerland


Cinema Location:
Arthouse Commercio
Mühlebachstrasse 2
8008 Zürich



A Swiss Article, translated from German:

ISLAM IS A MOSAIC, NOT A MONOLITH
http://www.religion.ch/web/kunst/58-der-islam-ist-ein-mosaik-kein-monolith
(translation was sent to me and some aspects seem to be lost in translation)


An interview with film producer Shamir Alibhai, whose documentary “The Aga Khan and the Ismailis” had its premiere last sunday.

Shamir Allibhai, for whom have you made this film?

Shamir Allibhai: This film project has been a long time concern of mine, and the necessity of it became more obvious in the past years, when the topic of fundamentalism became more and more acute with Islam so frequently being equated with the name „Bin Laden “.

The film addresses itself to a western public, to which I would like to show that the Islamic world represents a mosaic rather than a monolith. But naturally it addresses itself also to the east, were a lot about Islam but nearly nothing about the Ismailis is known.

In the film the commitment of the Aga Khan is represented as exemplary since he is building bridges between the Western and the Islamic world. Is his way the only possible way?


Shamir Allibhai, film producer: It would not be desirable to have only one facette of Islam. Islam is more than the Koran: Living this religion encompasses also culture and history – Islam is about pluralism. Also the bridging to the Western world can express itself in various shades. This is why the film is called „an Islamic Conscience “and not „the Islamic Conscience“. On the other hand the film deliberately illustrates the social projects initiated by the Aga Khan - as these can indeed be seen as role models.

The Aga Khan corresponds to the West expectations of an ideal dialogue partner representing the Muslim world. Is there no danger that he could be instrumentalized?

The Aga Khan leads the Ismaili community since more than 50 years, it would be naive to assume that he could be instrumentalized by current streams of Western politics. He has got his focus on a long-term commitment and is not so easily deterred from this.

His ways are very diplomatic. This is illustrated in the discrete way he expresses himself. He says: „There are friends and people, who are less well disposed“. And he works without seeking media attention. For example it took a whole year before he granted us an interview for this film.

Couldn’t this restraint also be a problem? Moderate voices of Islam cannot be heard often enough...

This restraint could also be a strategy of the Aga Khan. Perhaps the fact that he works behind the scenes is exactly one of the key elements of his success. He does not waste his energy by deliberately building up a media image. He gives his total committment to the social projects.

The film throws a critical light on the Sunni Muslims. These are nearly always portrayed as traditional, looking backwards and opposed to the Western ideal of the enlightened human being. This can hardly correspond to reality?

This is not totally correct. For example Imam Fiesal from New York, who is interviewed in the film, represents a moderate Sunni voice. Also it is not the goal of the film to illustrate all Islamic realities, but to outline the biography of an unusual man. And it is a historical fact that Ismailis who have been speaking up for tolerance and progress have been and are persecuted to this day.

The Aga Khan is considered as the only spiritual leader, who is relevant for the Ismaili Muslims. Do they see him as the manifestation of God on earth?

The devotion and love that the interviewed people have for the Aga Khan should not be understood in a way that they see him as the manifestation of god on earth. But they see how much he has done for them, and also how much he has sacrificed.



Where lies the hope for the Islamic world and the future?

I follow the analysis of the Aga Khan: Todays conflicts are not about a „Clash of Civilizations “, but about a „Clash of Ignorance “, we speak of a war, whose roots lie in ignorance. The solution for a peaceful and tolerant coexistence lies in education: Reading, learning, debating - there lies the chance for change, development and a hopeful future, also in the Islamic world.



Source: Panel discussion with Sara Leu, Managing director docufactory distribution, Shamir Alibhai, film producer and Arnold of the Hottinger, longtime correspondent of NZZ (Neue Zürcher Zeitung).

Thursday, October 30, 2008

4th week in a row - the Aga Khan Film in Zurich!

It is because you have spread awareness of the film by word-of-mouth plus with the help of positive press coverage that the Aga Khan Film has continued to screen in Zurich! There is a showing this Sunday, see the details below. Thank you and please keep spreading the word.

(At the bottom of the post, there is an icon that looks like an envelope: clicking on this will allow you to forward this message of the screening to your friends).
http://www.arthouse.ch/film/agakhanandtheismailis.html

Next Screening: 12:30pm, Sunday,
November 2, 2008
- Zurich, Switzerland


Cinema Location:
Arthouse Commercio
Mühlebachstrasse 2
8008 Zürich

044 250 55 30
office@arthouse.ch

REGIE:
Bill Cran
Shamir Allibhai
Jane Chablani
VERLEIH:

The Aga Khan and the Ismailis
Ein Film von Bill Cran, Shamir Allibhai, Jane Chablani
Seit fünf Dekaden ist er der spirituelle Führer und Imam der Ismaili Muslime. Die Welt hat sich in dieser Zeit dramatisch verändert: Das letzte Jahrhundert brachte das Ende des Kolonialismus, die Vertreibung der Asiaten aus Uganda, den Fall der eisernen Mauer und 9/11.

Die Konflikteherde finden sich nicht nur zwischen Ost und West, sie ziehen sich auch durch die islamische Welt. Die Ismaeliten sind in der Vergangenheit mehrfach verfolgt worden. Dies hat ihre Geschichte und ihre Philosophie geprägt.

Wer ist der Aga Khan? Wer sind die Ismaeliten? Und was haben sie über unsere Post-9/11-Welt zu sagen? Im ersten Dokumentarfilm über den Aga Khan seit 45 Jahren geben der Regisseur und mehrfache Emmy-Gewinner Bill Cran und Produzent Shamir Allibhai dem Aga Khan eine Stimme.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

A Wonderful Two Weeks

I got back to Boston last Monday after two wonderful weeks of premiering the film in Lebanon, Switzerland, and the DR Congo in Arabic, German, and French respectively. (We also did a second screening in Congo in Gujarati). The next few posts will seem to be out of order, as probably the last few posts seem to be as well: I am trying to catch up on blogging and will focus on different aspects in no particular order.

One of the most interesting experiences was at the Beirut International Film Festival. I rarely meet Muslim filmmakers and if I do, it is very briefly with a quick exchange of e-mail addresses. At the film festival it was the first time I got to meet, in one place, so many Muslim filmmakers - and to really get to know them as we spent so much time together including at screenings, dinners, and evening events. One of the questions I was curious to answer and posed to my new friends : Are we Muslim filmmakers or are we filmmakers who happen to be Muslim? Watch for my post on this soon...

It was refreshing traveling where by circumstance, I could get away from the constant news coverage of the heated US Presidential race. I did see Colin Powell endorse Obama as it was big news overseas. Powell said something I have been thinking for months:

"I'm also troubled by, not what Sen. McCain says, but what members of the party say, and it is permitted to be said such things as: "Well, you know that Mr. Obama is a Muslim." Well, the correct answer is: he is not a Muslim. He's a Christian. He's always been a Christian. But the really right answer is: What if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer is: No, that's not America. Is there something wrong with some 7-year-old Muslim-American kid believing he or she can be president?"*

Well said Powell.


*Source: Salon.com

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Picts from Switzerland - Part 2

Pictures from the Switzerland Premiere - Oct 12, 2008



Ticket from the Zurich screening





Arnold Hottinger speaking to his fans at the cinema in Basel


The gentleman on the left is a former classmate of Prince Amyn, the Aga Khan's brother. He and Prince Amyn were in the same year at school together and they still keep in touch.



The cinema in Basel


The Basel audience waiting for the show to begin.


The Berne audience waiting for the show to begin.

Islam Expert Prof Shulze and I after our Q+A period discussion at the Berne screening.

We realized that we actually had traveled together to Delhi, India in 2004 for the Aga Khan Award for Architecture which he was on the Master Jury of.

REINHARD SCHULZE is a German linguist and historian, professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Berne, Switzerland, and Vice Dean of the Faculty of Humanities. He studied Islam, Latin languages, Arabic, and linguistics at the University of Bonn, and went on to teach at the Universities of Bochum, Bonn, and Bamburg before joining the University of Berne in 1995. Professor Schulze is interested in both the historical development and spread of Islam, and in its contemporary understanding and practice. His most important and recent work is “A Modern History of the Islamic World” (NYU Press, 2000), and he has published widely on the topics of social, economic, and political studies of the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, including “The Birth of Tradition and Modernity in 18th and 19th Century Islamic Culture”, “International Islamic Organizations and the Muslims in Europe”, “Mass Culture and Islamic Culture Production in the 19th Century Middle East”, “The Forgotten Honor of Islam: The Muslim World in 1989”, and “Is there an Islamic Modernity?”.

Picts from Zurich, Switzerland

Switzerland Premiere - Oct 12, 2008

On the tram

The cinema in pretty Zurich


The queue for tickets to AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE in Zurich


Even in the midst of discussing serious and sensitive subjects, such as theology and religion, it is important to not forget the smiles and the laughters such as in this light-hearted moment above/below.








Looking at the Illustrated History of the Ismailis book


Friends and supporters at the Zurich screening


Azim, who hosted a pre-party the night before the screenings




I was surprised to meet an Afghan Ismaili in Zurich but apparently there are quite a few, such as the gentleman on my left. He said most don't understand English or read German so I gave him the film with Farsi subtitles to share with his friends and family.


Countess Leila Gangji showing us her photos with the Aga Khan's





Shamir Allibhai and Arnold Hottinger on their way to screening 2 (Basel)

Sara Leu (docufactory distribution) with the owner of the cinema in Zurich

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Aga Khan Film - Blick - more coverage in Switzerland



A Muslim fighting for tolerance
To see this Man live is for the Ismailis more important than the pilgrimage to Mecca. The Aga Khan is - according to Ismailism interpretation - a direct descendant of Mohammed and the spiritual and secular leader of the Shia religious community. The approximately 15 million believers live scattered all over the world. Karim Aga Khan came to the throne 50 years ago. A documentary film now shows his political, religious and private life and gives insight into the world of Ismailis - which for many of the 1.4 billion Muslims around the world are not the "true" Muslims. The women do not wear veils and pray together with men, the girls go to school and they all stand for tolerance and openness. This is Islam too.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Press coverage - Switzerland

Interview at Star TV






(German to English translation as provided to Shamir):

20 minuten, Mohan Mani: SPIRITUAL LEADER
"An impressive British documentary that sheds light on the nature and mindset of the Aga Khan & the Ismailis. This reflection about Islam of yesterday, today and tomorrow is very well done. And I recommend it especially for those for whom Islam is a book with seven seals."

Zueritipp (TagesAnzeiger), Julia Marx: VOICE OF A LIBERAL ISLAM
[Just a description of the film]

NZZ Ticket (NZZ), Alexandra Staehli:
"This film portrays the Aga Khan as successful businessman, philanthropist and clearsighted thinker. His adventurous family history is told with "verve" (passion). Sometimes the the film switches abruptly into a didactic tonality . But despite this little narrative weakness the Aga Khan remains enough distant and fascinating to make one want to know more about him."

Links:
www.20min.ch/ausgehen/kino

http://www.zueritipp.ch/dyn/kino/?eid=322414&aid=965742&region=1

www.nzzticket.ch/ki/index (then go to premieres, the ak)

Monday, October 13, 2008

From an audience member in Switzerland

After the premiere in Zurich, I met Countess Leila Ganji. Her stories of interacting with the Aga Khan's captivated the imagination of over a dozen people who circled around us as she shared her photos and experiences.

Below is an email from her friend.



Oct 12, 2008

Dear Shamir,

Today the Countess Leila Gangji and I were fortunate enough to have met you after seeing your most moving and inspiring film.

Leila showed you some photographs - and here they are.

This is:Prince Karim, with an Ismaili from South Africa and Countess Leila Gangji in East Africa 1954

This is the late Aga Khan (Golden Jubilee) and Countess Leila Gangji's husband - (who was the personal advisor to the Aga Khan) - Count Abdulla Hasham Gangji


Please let me know when you will show your film in Geneva as Leila Gangji and I would like to come and see it again. Leila used to live in Geneva, and so knows the whole Ismaili community there.

Best wishes
Margie

Sunday, October 12, 2008

The Switzerland Premiere - WOW

Switzerland Premiere - Oct 12, 2008
Day 2 of my trip here
Locations: Zurich, Basel, Bern
Screening Numbers: 1, 2 and 3

What a great day.

Its 2am and I just got back to Zurich. This will be a quick post as there is a television interview planned for tomorrow morning.

The premieres went fantastic. Just even numbers wise, for example in Zurich, we had 350 people at that screening. That's quite big! (There are only about 10 Ismailis in Zurich)**. The questions were thoughtful, the audience was engaged, I couldn't be happier. Thank you to all those who spread the word. Thank you to all those who attended. Thank you to the panelists. Thank you to Sara Leu/Docufactory for bringing the film to Switzerland. No, this isn't an Oscar acceptance speech (but thank you to my tailor, my agent, and my hair stylist too. :) )

Many people came up to me after the screenings to tell me about previous experiences they have had with the Aga Khan, his father and/or his grandfather. They were all so happy to have heard about this film and that a film was made on the Ismailis. They brought more than just stories, they brought photos too - especially to show and share with me. Oh and by the way, these were mainly non-Ismailis who were coming up to me with the anecdotes and picts.

What was really interesting was how the Zurich-based group of 10 Ismailis, who meet every week for prayer, found three more Zurich-based Ismailis whom they never knew existed (!) - and vice versa. The small community is a little less smaller and they were very happy. The known jamat here has now increased by 30% and they joked that it should be large enough for them to have their own jamatkhane*!



*Ismaili place of worship, comparable to a mosque

**Updated Oct 31, 2008: another friend there said there is more like 30 Ismailis in Zurich

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Switzerland - Landed

Switzerland - Day 1 - Oct 11, 2008

I took a Friday night/Sat early morning red-eye flight into Zurich. I was sad to leave Beirut as it is one of my favorite cities in the world. It is nice to be back in Switzerland though. Everything works, is on time and one does not need to haggle with taxi cab drivers over pennies because of principle. ("My foreign accent doesnt mean you can charge me triple!") Switzerland and Lebanon are worlds apart on the surface - even a Lebanese cab which costs triple the going rate is still significantly cheaper than a Swiss taxi on the meter!

The first time I went to Switzerland was to go ice climbing and canyoning. None of that natural beauty on this trip this time: tomorrow are the Switzerland premieres of AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE in Zurich, Basel and Bern and then I will be leaving soon thereafter.

In the country's papers, I saw a few articles on the film in them - from the translation that was given to me, I am told it was good overall.

I met up with Sara Leu, who is helping with the screenings, tonight. She took me out for some fabulous schnitzel. After this, I was hosted by an Ismaili and the small Zurich jamat. Most had not seen the film and were looking forward to seeing it on Sunday. They have many questions they tell me.

Till tomorrow...

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Switzerland Premieres - October 12th

Join us October 12th for the Aga Khan Film's release in the German part of Switzerland. The film will be screened in English audio with German subtitles. Please spread the word.

SWITZERLAND PREMIERE SCREENINGS:

Zürich, Oct 12th, 12:15pm Uhr Arthouse Le Paris
Q+A: Islam Expert and book author Arnold Hottinger discusses with producer Shamir Allibhai

Basel, Oct 12th, 17:00 pm, kultkino camera
Q+A: Islam Expert and book author Arnold Hottinger discusses with producer Shamir Allibhai

Bern, Oct 12th, 20:30 pm, Kino Movie
Q+A: Islam Expert Prof. Reinhard Schulze discusses with producer Shamir Allibhai

Tickets available at the door.

German:

Wer ist der Aga Khan? Wer sind die Ismaeliten? Muslime und Nicht-Muslime entfernen sich immer mehr voneinander. Was haben die Ismaeliten dazu zu sagen?

Liebe Alle

Der Dokumentarfilm "THE AGA KHAN & THE ISMAILIS" entstand unter der Regie von Emmy Gewinner Bill Cran und wurde bereits in mehreren Ländern gezeigt. Nun kommt der Film in die Deutschschweizer Kinos und wir möchten Sie herzlich einladen, bei den Premièren am 12. Oktober mit dabei zu sein.

Wir leben in einer Zeit, in der der Islam sich selbst und den Westen hinterfragt. THE AGA KHAN & THE ISMAILIS geht den Dingen auf den Grund. Diskutieren Sie mit uns!

Premierenveranstaltungen

Zürich, 12. Oktober, 12.15 Uhr Arthouse Le Paris
Islam Experte und Buchautor Arnold Hottinger diskutiert mit Produzent Shamir Allibhai

Basel, 12. Oktober , 17.00 Uhr, kultkino camera
Islam Experte und Buchautor Arnold Hottinger diskutiert mit Produzent Shamir Allibhai

Bern, 12. Oktober, 20.30 Uhr, Kino Movie
Islam Experte Prof. Reinhard Schulze diskutiert mit Produzent Shamir Allibhai